Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Petaling Jaya on Monday, 11^th August 2008: 

If we can see through such sufferings of Muslims and non-Muslims through the prism of dialogues and compassion instead of absolute laws, religious edicts and moral certitude, by lessening their sufferings we would have made Malaysia a more cohesive and harmonious society  

DAP is disappointed that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s irresponsible remarks in condoning extreme, hooligan and rowdy behaviour that disrupted a forum held by the Bar Council and threats of using the Internal Security Act(ISA) against the Bar Council is a desperate attempt to revive the waning political fortunes of BN. Now that BN can no longer respond to charges of corruption, mismanagement, abuse of power and waste, they are playing with fire by using religion to frighten the people.

The rowdy and hooligan behaviour by sections of the crowd, which included UMNO and some Pakatan Rakyat MPs, that broke up the forum and used racial epithets and slurs is deplorable. DAP condemns such near-violent behaviour and welcomes the disciplinary action taken by the respective PR parties as announced, to prevent PR’s image from being tarnished and dragged down to the same level as UMNO.

By condemning the Bar Council’s persistence and stubborness in organising the forum as justification for the extreme reaction to occur, Najib appears to also justify violence. For a future Prime Minister to defend such extreme and rowdy behaviour is a genuine cause of concern for Malaysia’s future as a harmonious and peaceful multi-racial society that guarantees freedom of religion.

In dealing with this sensitive issue of religion, human rights and justice, reference should be made to three articles of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, namely:-

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

In that ideal context, both the Bar Council and protesters have the right to speak and protest in a peaceful manner. The police should be there to enforce and protect their respective rights to speak and protest in an impartial and professional manner. The failure of the police to do so is most regrettable.

However matters relating to religion can not be reduced or defined by mere declarations of principles or intent alone. As real people and human sufferings are involved, understanding and compassion is necessary.

We should understand the pain and suffering of a Malay Muslim family if their child whom they had so lovingly brought up as a Muslim, suddenly converts out of Islam and becomes a non-Muslim, as they say “like cutting out one’s own flesh”.

Similarly we should also see the pain and suffering of a non-Malay family “of cutting one’s own flesh” when their child converts to Islam against their wishes to marry a Muslim. And when he or she wants to revert back to his or her old religion after the marriage breaks down to marry again, is prevented from doing so.

There should be compassion to such human sufferings by both Muslim and non-Muslims alike. Just as we understand why Malay Muslims are so emotional when Malay Muslim convert out of Islam; we should also understand the same feelings of non-Muslims when non-Malay non-Muslims who convert to Islam are prevented from reverting back to their original religion.

If we can see through such sufferings of Muslims and non-Muslims through the prism of dialogues and compassion instead of absolute laws, religious edicts and moral certitude, by lessening their sufferings we would have made Malaysia a more cohesive and harmonious society.

---

* Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister & DAP Secretary-General